Automated apparatus for photocomposing

ABSTRACT

The disclosed invention is for an automated photocomposing apparatus. The apparatus includes (A) means for storing and supplying severed support sheets; (B) means for dispensing and leveling a liquid photocurable composition on a support sheet; (C) a housing having at one end an actinic light source and at the other end a support adapted to receive thereon a supported liquid photocurable composition which on exposure to actinic light through an image bearing transparency becomes selectively insolubilized in the exposed portions thereof; (D) a conveyor means for transferring photoexposed sheets from a horizontally disposed position to a vertically disposed position; (E) an etching bath energized by ultrasonic energy; (F) a washing bath; (G) an air drying station disposed adjacent the washing bath; and (H) a horizontally disposed photocuring station for finally curing the processed plate. A plurality of conveying means transfer sheets from location (A) to location (H) in automated sequence. The invention is especially useful in preparing a developable printing plate from a liquid photocurable composition.

United States Patent 1 Miller et al.

[4 1 Aug. 7, 1973 1 AUTOMATED APPARATUS FOR PHOTOCOMPOSING [73] Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 132,976

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 830,972, June 6,

1969, Pat. No. 3,635,711.

[52] US. Cl. 355/100, 95/89 R, 95/89 D, 355/85, 355/133 [51] Int. Cl. G031) 27/30 [58] Field of Search 355/100, 133, 85; 95/89 R, 89 D; 96/36, 36.3

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,597,080 8/1971 Gush et al 355/85 3,529,529 9/1970 Schumacher 95/89 R 3,520,606 7/1970 Gush et a1 95/89 R 2,580,779 1/1952 Heyer et al. 355/100 2,945,760 7/1960 Ostergaard et al.... 95/89 R 3,559,555 2/1971 Street 95/89 R 2,830,899 4/1958 Brown.... 96/363 X 2,734,436 2/1956 Hills 95/89 D Pianowski 95/89 D Kerlin 95/8) R Primary Examiner-Richard L. Moses Au0rneyllugene M. Bond and Kenneth E. Prince [57] ABSTRACT The disclosed invention is for an automated photoeomposing apparatus. The apparatus includes (A) means for storing and supplying severed support sheets; (B) means for dispensing and leveling a liquid photocurable composition on a support sheet; (C) a housing having at one end an actinic light source and at the other end a support adapted to receive thereon a supported liquid photocurable composition which on exposure to actinic light through an image bearing transparency becomes selectively insolubilized in the exposed portions thereof; (D) a conveyor means for transferring photoexposed sheets from a horizontally disposed position to a vertically disposed position; (B) an etching bath energized by ultrasonic energy; (F) a washing bath; (G) an air drying station disposed adjacent the washing bath; and (H) a horizontally disposed photocuring station for finally curing the processed plate. A plurality of conveying means transfer sheets from location (A) to location (H) in automated SCQUBINXL'ThB invention is especially useful in preparing a developahle printing plate from a liquid photocurahle composition.

13 Claims, 31 Drawing Flgures PATENIED sum 01 or 2o INVEN'IOIS WESLEY W. MILLER GEROLD LlTSCHl WARREN BIXLER ATTORNEY PATENTEU sum 02 or 20 8 S. W vm i m; W N on i :1: mm a Y @m Ow a N@ wwni INVENTORS WESLEY W. MILLER GEROLD LITSCHI WARREN BIXLER IOO mvmwons WESLEY w. MILLER GEROLD LITSCHI WARREN BIXLER \TEMQ ATTORNEY Pmmmw Hm saw on or 2o INVENTORS WESLEY W. MILLER GEROLD LITSCH I WARREN BIXLER /g. kw 1 M08 7 ATTORNEY PATENTED INVIIN'IOIIS LEY W. MlLlR LITSCHI B IXLER n WW sum as or 20 ATTORNEY Pmmm ms 1 ms sum as or 20 E Em - INVINTUIS WESLEY W. MILLER GEROLD LITSCHI WARREN BIXLER ATTOINEY PATENIEDMIK m sum as 0F 2o ATTORN EY PAIENIEUM'E w 3.751.164

saw 10 or 2 0 I mvsn'rons WESLEY w. MILLER GERO LD LITSCHI WARREN BIXLER ATTORN I'IY Pmninw 1m f 3.751.184

vsum 13 or 20;

FIG. 17

WARREN BIXL PAIENIEW 7973 saw mar 20 NVENTORS WESLEY W. M R GEROLD LITSCH WARREN B'XLER ATTORNEY Pmmm 1m" 3751.164

sninnnfzo ATTORNEY PREMIU 7373 3.751.164

sum 18 If 20 INVENTORS WESLEY W. MILLER GEROLD LITSCHI WARREN BIXLER ATTORN EY Pmmww: ma

U) U C "an FIG. 2a

INVEN'I'OIS WESLEY W. MILLER ITSCHI REN BIXLER ATTORNEY 

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes dispensing means for dispensing a liquid photocurable composition to said sheet; and leveling means for leveling the dispensed liquid composition to a substantially uniform thickness.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes an etching bath energized by ultrasonic energy, a water spray bath for cleaning the etched printing plate, and an air dryer for drying the water washed printing plate.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a system is included which continuously monitors the concentration of the solvent or detergent in the etching bath and as required, replenishes depleted solvent or detergent thereby maintaining a desired, substantially constant bath concentration.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a vertical posterior photocuring unit is included at step (D), said unit having shutter means disposed intermediate an actinic radiation means and said plate to control the time of exposure of projected radiation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the timer automatically regulates the opening period of the shutters for a period of time of about 0.1 to about 60 seconds.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the liquid photocurable composition is received from a supply system which includes a positive displacement pump; a reservoir for storing a supply of liquid photocurable composition; transport means connecting said pump, reservoir, and dispenser; and an automatic control valve means disposed along said transport means for regulating flow and for providing a metered quantity of liquid photocurable composition at desired time intervals.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherEin the reservoir is heated and equipped with an agitator, degassing vacuum means, recycle lines, and means for re-supplying liquid photocurable composition to the system.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said leveling means is a doctor blade.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a static electricity eliminator is disposed in said frame to eliminate static electricity between the transparency and the surface of the liquid photocurable composition layer.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the etching bath is energized by means of ultrasonic energy, a liquid is maintained in the bath at a temperature sufficient to keep the non-image area of the plate in the liquid or molten phase, and means for energizing the bath by ultrasonic energy to a degree necessary to cause cavitation and removal of substantially all of the unexposed non-image area.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic energy level of the bath varies between about 18 to about 40 kilocycles.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exposure station includes a frame network adapted to support at one end thereof an actinic light source and at the other end a platform adapted to receive thereon a sheet supported photocurable composition. 